Anchoring member with packer

ABSTRACT

The spinal osteosynthesis assembly comprises:  
     an anchoring member ( 2 ) comprising a head ( 22 ) and anchoring means ( 21 ), and  
     at least one packer ( 101 ) comprising a through-orifice ( 114 ) capable of receiving the anchoring means ( 21 ),  
     and it comprises retaining means ( 23 ) for holding the packer against the head.

[0001] The invention relates to spinal osteosynthesis systems.

[0002] Spinal osteosynthesis systems generally comprise bone screws, such as pedicle screws. Sometimes, during the surgical operation, one or more screws are not screwed fully home, that is to say that the cortical thread is not fully engaged in the bone of the vertebra. This occurs for various reasons: it may be because the screw is too long and because, if it were screwed fully home, the distal end of the thread would re-emerge from the bone on the opposite side to the side via which the screw entered, digging into the tissues located on that side. Another reason is an anatomical defect leading to the fact that, if the screw were screwed fully home, it would be screwed in further than the other screws of the osteosynthesis system used, and this would lead to exaggerated and difficult-to-achieve bowing of the connecting member. To avoid this, the surgeon does not screw the screw fully into the bone, leaving the proximal part of the cortical thread disengaged from the bone. In all instances, that has the disadvantage of making the screw unstable in the bone because this screw is not tight and of leaving bone threads outside the bone in which the member is anchored, which leads to damage to the surrounding tissue because of the presence of the sharp corners on the screw thread.

[0003] One object of the invention is to provide a system which makes it possible to better stabilize an anchoring member while at the same time better isolating the non-engaged anchoring part from the adjacent environment.

[0004] To do that, the invention provides a spinal osteosynthesis assembly comprising an anchoring member comprising a head and anchoring means, and at least one packer comprising a through-orifice capable of receiving the anchoring means, the assembly comprising retaining means for holding the packer against the head.

[0005] Thus, the part of the anchoring means of the anchoring member which is not engaged in the bone finds itself at least partially surrounded by the packer which isolates it from the adjacent environment. On the other hand, if the packer presses against the bone, it provides better stability. In consequence, the anchoring member is stabilized and the non-engaged part of the anchoring means can no longer damage the tissue surrounding the anchoring member.

[0006] Advantageously, the packer having a thickness e, it has a slot through the entire thickness e.

[0007] Advantageously, the slot is arranged in such a way that the packer forms a non-closed annulus.

[0008] Advantageously, the slot has a width roughly equal to a dimension of the anchoring means.

[0009] Thus, the packer can be fitted over the anchoring member when the latter is already anchored in the bone.

[0010] Advantageously, the retaining means comprise at least one lip of the anchoring member and at least one lip of the packer complementing the lip of the anchoring member so as to engage therewith.

[0011] Thus, the packer is clipped onto the anchoring member in a simple movement.

[0012] Advantageously, the packer comprises at least one groove at the lip.

[0013] Advantageously, the packer being a first packer and the retaining means being first retaining means, it comprises a second packer comprising a through-orifice capable of receiving the anchoring means, the assembly comprising second retaining means for holding the second packer against the first packer.

[0014] Advantageously, the second retaining means are identical to the first retaining means.

[0015] Advantageously, the second packer is identical to the first packer.

[0016] Still according to the invention, there is provided an osteosynthesis system comprising at least one assembly having at least one of the previous features.

[0017] There is also provided, according to the invention, a surgical method exhibiting steps of fitting the packer onto the anchoring member, then inserting the anchoring member into the bone.

[0018] Advantageously, the method exhibits steps of fitting the anchoring member into the bone, then fitting the packer over the anchoring member.

[0019] Advantageously, the method exhibits an additional step of anchoring the anchoring member to the extent that the packer comes into contact with the bone.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the description hereinbelow of one preferred embodiment and of some alternative forms. In the appended drawings:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a first embodiment of the invention, during fitting;

[0022]FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the packer of the first embodiment;

[0023]FIG. 3 is a view in section on III-III of the second embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1;

[0024]FIG. 4 is a view in section on IV-IV of the packer of the first embodiment of FIG. 2;

[0025]FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of a second embodiment of the invention, prior to fitting;

[0026]FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional view of the second embodiment of FIG. 5, during fitting;

[0027]FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional view of the packer of the second embodiment;

[0028]FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional view of a packer of a third embodiment of the invention; and

[0029]FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional view of a fourth embodiment of the packer of the invention.

[0030] For all the embodiments which are going to be described, just one anchoring member 2 is depicted, the remainder of the osteosynthesis system not being depicted.

[0031] In a way which is common to all the embodiments, an osteosynthesis system comprises a number of anchoring members 2, in this instance monoaxial bone screws, at least one connecting element (not depicted), in this instance connecting rods of circular cross section, and locking means (not depicted) for locking the connecting elements to the anchoring members, in this instance bolts. Each anchoring member 2 of the osteosynthesis system consists of two main parts: a lower part 21, in this instance of cylindrical shape with a circular cross section having a bone thread, this part being able to engage and anchor in the bone. An upper part 22 of the anchoring member, which part is known as the “screw head” comprises two parallel branches extending opposite each other and delimiting a U-shaped opening capable of accommodating the connecting element. The interior faces facing each other of the branches forming the U have a screw thread capable of collaborating with a complementary screw thread belonging to the locking means. Such anchoring members are described in patents FR 2 642 643 and FR 2 659 546 to which reference will be made for further details. The upper part 22 and the lower part 21 of each anchoring member 2 are connected to one another forming a surface 24 which has a circular cut 23 of roughly V-shaped cross section extending around the entire circumference of the surface 24.

[0032] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, we are now going to describe a first embodiment of the invention. The packer 1 has an annular shape and exhibits a lateral external surface 12 and a lateral internal surface 15, the lateral internal surface 15 delimiting a central through-opening 14. The upper end of the internal surface 15 comprises a lip 12 on its entire circumference. The external lateral surface 12 comprises, in its lower part, a circular cut 13 of roughly V-shaped cross section running around the entire circumference of the annulus. The internal lateral surface 15 more or less complements the part of the face 24 of the anchoring member 2 that lies between the cut 23 and the lower part 21 of the anchoring member 2. Furthermore, the part of the external lateral surface 12 that lies below the circular cut 13 of the packer 1 more or less complements the upper part of the internal lateral surface 15. The packer 1 has a working thickness e measured parallel to an axis A perpendicular to the overall plane of the packer.

[0033] We are now going to describe the use of the first embodiment of the invention. The surgeon, before fitting his anchoring member into the bone at the desired location, fits the anchoring member 2 and the packer 1 together. To do that, he slips the part 21 exhibiting the bone thread through the orifice 14 of the packer 1 until the lip 11 comes into contact with the surface 24 of the anchoring member. At that moment, the lip 11 lies near the cut 23. The surgeon applies additional force to the packer so that the lip 11 engages in the cut 23. To obtain that result, the surgeon has made use of the elasticity of the material of which the packer 1 is made. This material is biocompatible, so that it can be tolerated by the human body. This may be stainless steel, such as 316L, titanium, or alternatively a titanium alloy such as TA6V4, or alternatively a polymer such as PEEK (polyetheretherketone). Once this assembly has been achieved, the surgeon fits the anchoring member into the patient in such a way that, for preference, the packer comes into contact with the bone 5, as illustrated in FIG. 3. He then continues his surgical operation.

[0034] With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, we are going to describe a second embodiment of the invention. The packer 101 is very similar to the packer 1 of the previous embodiment: this packer is formed of an annulus of a cross section identical to the cross section of the annulus that forms the packer 1. The surface 115 is identical to the surface 15; likewise, the surface 112 is identical to the surface 12. The upper end of the surface 115 has a lip 111 identical to the lip 11. Likewise, the surface 112 has a cut 113 identical to the cut 13. The lateral internal surface 115 delimits an orifice 114. The difference lies in the fact that the packer 101 has a slot 116, thus forming a non-closed annulus. This slot 116 has an opening, the width of which is roughly equivalent to the diameter of the lower part 21 of the anchoring member 2.

[0035] In use, the surgeon can fit the packer 101 over the anchoring member 2 before fitting the anchoring member 2 into the patient, or alternatively he may install the packer 101 after he has positioned the anchoring member 2 in the patient. In the former instance, fitting-together is done in the same way as in the previous embodiment of the invention. In the latter instance, the surgeon has fitted the anchoring member 2 and an anchoring part of the part 21 of the anchoring member 2 is not engaged in the bone and projects out from the bone. To protect the surrounding tissues and organs, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to better stabilize the anchoring member, the surgeon will insert a packer between the head 22 of the anchoring member 2 and the surface of the bone. To do that, he clips the packer 101 under the head 22 of the anchoring member 2 as follows. As indicated in FIG. 5 by the arrow F, the part 21 is inserted into the orifice 114 through the slot 116. As it is passing through the slot 116, this slot opens up slightly because of the elasticity of the material of the packer, to allow the part 21 to pass. Once this part is in the orifice 114, the slot 116 returns to its previous openness, closing up on itself through the elasticity of the material of which the packer 101 is made. The surgeon then has merely to exert a force similar to the force that he would have exerted in the previous embodiment in order to insert the lip 111 of the packer 101 into the cut 23 of the anchoring member 2. The packer 101 is fitted onto the anchoring member 2 as illustrated in FIG. 8. Next, the surgeon continues his surgical operation in the normal way.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 8, we are going to describe a third embodiment of the invention. The packer 301 differs from the packer 1 in that grooves 317 distributed uniformly around the entire circumference of an upper part of the packer 301 split the lip 311 into roughly identical angular sectors. In this instance there are four grooves 317. Thus, on fitting, the elastic deformation of the packer 301 is easier when inserting the lip 311 into the cut 23 of the anchoring member 2. In consequence, the surgeon supplies a force which is weaker than the force he supplies for the packer 1 of the first embodiment for clipping the packer 301 onto the anchoring member 2.

[0037] The use of the packer 301 is identical to the use of the packer 1 in the first embodiment.

[0038] With reference to FIG. 9, according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, the packer 201 is identical to the packer 101 except that the opening of the slot 216 is far smaller. This slot 216 does not allow the part 21 of the anchoring member 2 to be introduced sideways into the orifice 214. This packer 201 is fitted in the same way as the packer 1 described earlier. Just like with the third embodiment of the invention, the deformation of the ring 201 is made easier by the presence of the slot 216 during clipping to introduce the lip 211 into the cut 23. In consequence, the surgeon supplies a force which is weaker than the force he supplies for the packer 1 of the first embodiment for fitting the packer 201 onto the anchoring member 2.

[0039] For all the embodiments, as the packers comprise on their exterior surface a cut identical to the cut made on the anchoring member, these packers can be stacked up as the surgeon sees fit, the lip of the packer below clipping into the cut of the packer above. It is thus possible for two or more packers to be slipped over and fitted onto the anchoring member.

[0040] Of course, it is possible to make numerous modifications to the present invention without in any way departing from its scope.

[0041] For example, the lips and the cut could be replaced by complementing conical surfaces delimiting what are known as “Morse tapers”.

[0042] The lips could be replaced by a screw thread while the cut will be replaced by a groove surmounting a screw thread that complements the thread. Thus, the packer will be fixed to the screw thread until the thread enters the groove where it will be held captive.

[0043] The lips could be replaced by a number of studs projecting toward the central orifice of the packer and distributed uniformly around the circumference of the packer, while the cut will be replaced by housings, of which there would be the same number as there are studs, which housings could accommodate and retain said studs.

[0044] The anchoring member could be any type of bone screw, of the polyaxial or monoaxial type. The connection between the anchoring member and the packer could lie at the head or alternatively at the anchoring part of the member. 

1. Spinal osteosynthesis assembly comprising: an anchoring member (2) comprising a head (22) and anchoring means (21), and at least one packer (1; 101; 201; 301) comprising a through-orifice (14; 114; 214; 314) capable of receiving the anchoring means (21), characterized in that it comprises retaining means (23) for holding the packer against the head.
 2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, the packer having a thickness e, it has a slot (116; 216) through the entire thickness e.
 3. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the slot is arranged in such a way that the packer forms a non-closed annulus.
 4. Assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the slot (116) has a width roughly equal to a dimension of the anchoring means (21).
 5. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the retaining means comprise at least one lip (23) of the anchoring member and at least one lip (11; 111; 211; 311) of the packer complementing the lip of the anchoring member so as to engage therewith.
 6. Assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the packer (301) comprises at least one groove (317) at the lip (311).
 7. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, the packer being a first packer and the retaining means being first retaining means, it comprises a second packer (1; 101; 201; 301) comprising a through-orifice (14; 114; 214; 314) capable of receiving the anchoring means, the assembly comprising second retaining means (13; 113; 213; 313) for holding the second packer against the first packer.
 8. Assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the second retaining means (13; 113; 213; 313) are identical to the first retaining means (23).
 9. Assembly according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the second packer is identical to the first packer.
 10. Osteosynthesis system, characterized in that it comprises at least one assembly according to one of claims 1 to
 9. 